Chapter 13
Jennie
About ten days later we’re at my doctor’s for the next echogram screening.
I feel nervous about the result, although I feel so much better now, and the spotting has stopped altogether.
I am not even as tired as I used to be. Having rested and being cared for had a tremendous impact on my well-being.
I cast a grateful glance at the handsome man at my side.
“Huh?” Finn looks at me quizzically.
I give his hand a little squeeze and say, “Thank you.”
“What for? I didn’t do anything.”
“You are here with me. You are here for me. I appreciate that.”
He gives me one of his dazzling smiles. “I will never leave you alone. There will be days you’ll wish I would, but no—I’ll be always by your side.”
I giggle. “That’s supposed to intimidate me, right?”
He solemnly nods. “You should be out of your mind right now. Thirteen.”
“Thank you for scaring the wits out of me.”
The ultrasound tech has entered the room and overheard the last sentence. She looks at me concerned, and Finn and I burst out laughing.
“Sorry,” I say. “We’re just goofing around.”
The tech smiles and takes the bottle with the horribly cold goo. “Ready to see your baby?”
I nod and look over to Finn. He bites his lips and looks decidedly nervous. He takes my hand, his eyes glued to the monitor before the wand is even on my belly.
Baby has grown since the last time, but that is nothing new to me—I feel it every day. Other than that I can’t recognize much, even though the tech points out the face and the arm. I guess there is a reason ultrasound techs have many months of special training.
“Do you want to know the sex?”
We should have expected this question, should have talked about it. I look at Finn. He shrugs. “I don’t care.”
“Are you sure?”
“Buttercup, I am insanely proud and twice over the moon that we’re having a baby. I could care less about what’s between the legs.”
“Gross!” I swat his chest.
“Nothing but the truth.” He takes my hand and kisses the knuckles. “I love you. Twelve.”
I smile and tell the tech, “No, we don’t.”
Half an hour later, we leave the office with a clean bill of health.
I will even be able to start working again.
Finn doesn’t like it much, as he’s scared for my health, but I am happy.
Of course, my job has sides that I will not miss in a thousand years, but they are easily outweighed by the smell of coffee, the innocuous gossip, and the friendly exchanges.
For some minutes I enjoy the blissful knowledge that everything is alright, until, unexpectedly, dread fills me.
“Hey, what’s up?” Finn senses my anxiety before I can even put a name to it.
I shrug. “It’s just so perfect. I fear something might happen to spoil it.”
Finn squeezes my thigh. “Or it might get better still.”
The trepidation lingers, but I smile. There’s no need for Finn to worry, too.
I ask him to stop at the Caffeine Drip so that I can talk to Robin about my schedule. As we walk in, I hear Stick holler, “Hey, Finn, come over! I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Finn looks into the cardboard box that’s sitting next to Stick.
“No way!” he exclaims and reaches in to take out a small kitten.
He cuddles and caresses the cat and I watch nervously.
As a pregnant woman I shouldn’t have any contact with a cat, as they often transmit a disease that might harm an unborn baby.
I’m not quite sure if that also applies to contact with someone who’s had contact…
Stick watches his friend caressing the cat. “You said you wanted one.”
Finn flinches. “I, uh, I can’t—” He looks over to me. “Now’s a bad time for getting a kitty. Sorry.”
Stick looks between Finn and me, his face scrunched. Inadvertently, I put my hand over my ever so slightly bulging belly. I still look mostly overweight. But suddenly, Stick somehow connects the dots and blurts out with, “Toxoplasmosis! You’re pregnant!”
All conversation stops instantly and people gape, only to laugh and applaud. Finn and I are flooded with congratulations and questions, and the hubbub hasn’t even settled when Patty storms in. Someone must have called her. “When were you going to tell me? I have a right to know I’ll be a grandma!”
Finn embraces her and it’s hard to discern whether that is a sweet gesture to console his mother or to protect me from one of her crushing hugs.
Stick stands beside me and asks, grinning, “You’re ready to make them your family?”
Patty hears that and cheers, “You’re getting married? When?” She takes out her phone and scrolls. “We’ve got an opening the second week of July.”
“No, Ma, stop it,” Finn demands. “We’re going to tell you if and when and how we want to tie the knot. This is between me and Jennie, and you will have to hold your horses.”
Patty, encouraged by neighbors, tries pushing, but Finn raises his voice to be heard. “Stop it and stop it now! None of you will be in the planning. Christ, let me propose before you set a date!”
His mother’s face contorts in guilt. “Oh, I assumed…”
“Sure, you assumed. I need you to listen more.” He kissed the top of her head. I know he loves his mother dearly, but in this moment I realize he loves me more. “Give us space,” he warns softly.
My family is distant, or maybe even uncaring, and, although I have been a family friend for so many years, I will never cease to wonder at the close bond between Finn and his family. I can’t wait to start my own family with him, as tightly knit and loving.